Regional Leaders Urge Merseyside Manufacturers to Tap Into Digital Funding

Business leaders and innovation agencies across the Liverpool City Region have issued a joint call urging small and medium-sized manufacturers to access available government funding and specialist technical support. Speaking at a major regional summit held at Glass Futures in St Helens, senior representatives from Growth Platform, Made Smarter North West, and local universities emphasised the urgent need for industrial firms to adopt modern digital technologies amid rising operational costs and persistent skills pressures. Manufacturing remains a vital cornerstone of the regional economy, encompassing roughly 2,500 diverse businesses that employ around 50,000 skilled people and contribute £2.9 billion in annual economic output. Through dedicated government-backed initiatives, local companies can secure matched capital grants, expert consultancy, and tailored workforce training to integrate automation, industrial robotics, and real-time data analytics into their production lines. Officials highlighted inspiring regional success stories, such as Knowsley-based water treatment specialist SolidTek, to demonstrate how connecting with local innovation hubs like Sci-Tech Daresbury and Liverpool John Moores University can accelerate productivity and commercial growth. Regional agencies confirmed they are streamlining advisory services to ensure Merseyside manufacturers have the confidence and capital required to modernise and remain competitive in global markets.